MissUnderstood: The ADHD in Women Channel
Episodes
ADHD and sleep: 5 strategies to finally beat insomnia
05 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
ADHD doesn’t clock out at bedtime. From delayed sleep phases and racing thoughts to stimulant timing and restless nights, sleep disruption is one of...
Can I get rid of my adult sensory issues?
30 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Rae puts on her most uncomfortable pants (on purpose!) to ask a fashion designer and former special ed teacher whether adults can actually get over se...
How online community is saving (and breaking) my ADHD brain | Sorry, I Missed This
23 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Laura Mears-Reynolds, founder of ADHDAF and an award-winning community organizer, joins Cate to talk about online communication, building connection, ...
ADHD and weed: Why it feels like a fix (but isn’t)
20 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Marijuana can feel like a miracle fix for ADHD, quieting the noise and taking the edge off. But this short-term relief comes with trade-offs. In this ...
PMDD: Why women with ADHD are 4x more likely to struggle | Hyperfocus
16 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Hyperfocus listener Jenna Plonsky opens a raw conversation about ADHD, late diagnosis, and the mental health struggles many women face in silence. F...
Writing the ADHD guide we wish we'd had
09 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Content warning: This episode discusses self-harm. What does it actually take to finish a book with ADHD? Cate sits down with Erik Gude, her co-au...
ADHD and filing taxes without the dread
07 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Every year, tax season arrives on schedule. Every year, you scramble to track down bank statements, W2s, receipts, and… UGH. If you have ADHD, that’...
Is “ring of fire” ADHD real? | Hyperfocus
02 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Our team has been seeing something called “ring of fire” ADHD spreading across the internet. It’s a supposed subtype of ADHD promoted by Daniel ...
ADHD gaslighting and chasing new relationship energy (Reddit Reactions) | Sorry, I Missed This
26 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As we know, Reddit is full of messy love stories, and we have thoughts. From gaslighting and age gaps to the weird magic of “new relationship ener...
ADHD and how guilt hijacks your brain
24 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
For people with ADHD, guilt can feel like a full-time job you never signed up for. In this episode, Dr. J digs into why your brain keeps hitting re...
This changed my mind on what’s possible with a learning disability | Hyperfocus
19 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Rae has a lifelong misconception about her dyscalculia turned on its head. And she learns why labels don’t mean limits. For more on this topic Lis...
When ADHD turns chores into conflict
12 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Division of labor between partners isn’t easy for anyone. Add ADHD and suddenly dishes come with shame. Trash becomes a crisis. And rest starts to f...
ADHD and lying: Why it happens and how to stop
10 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
For many people with ADHD, lying isn’t about dishonesty. It’s a stress response. Some days your ADHD brain tells a tiny fib just to survive the ...
Why there’s no “gold standard” for adult ADHD tests
05 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Last fall, I heard something that floored me: The tests we have for ADHD in adults don’t work very well. As an adult with ADHD, I think about this a...
Decisions, decisions: ADHD and the trap of analysis paralysis | Sorry, I Missed This
26 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever stayed up all night replaying a meeting in your head? Or obsessed over an email? Or questioned every instinct you have? If making decisi...
ADHD and how to stop a mood spiral fast
24 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Why can a small stressor like a confusing email or a last-minute change suddenly feel like the floor just dropped out from under you? One minute you’...
How menopause and hormones impact ADHD symptoms in women
12 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
If your ADHD symptoms seem to have leveled up out of nowhere, you’re not losing it. Hormones play a much bigger role in ADHD than most of us underst...
ADHD and setting goals (when resolutions flop)
10 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
By now, New Year’s resolutions already feel… kind of over. In this episode, Dr. J breaks down why traditional resolution culture doesn’t work f...
The ADHD content economy: How algorithms and incentives turn help into grift | Hyperfocus
05 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The ADHD internet is crowded — and not all content is created equal. From unlicensed coaches to miracle cures and viral “hacks,” misinformation...
Stuck in your head? ADHD, overthinking, and getting “unstuck” | Sorry, I Missed This
29 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Ever catch yourself spiraling over a decision and feeling like your brain won’t stop replaying every possible “what if”? Dr. J is joining us t...
ADHD and routines: How to build habits that stick
27 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Routines aren’t about perfection. They’re about keeping the peace and developing a sense of stability. In this episode, Dr. J explains why tradi...
Kids are at a breaking point, and school policies might be to blame | Hyperfocus
22 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
U.S. kids are more depressed, stressed, and anxious than ever. ADHD and autism diagnosis rates are steadily rising. What’s going on? In this episod...
When ADHD mistakes spiral and resentment hits (Reddit Reactions) | Sorry, I Missed This
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When ADHD overwhelm hits, it’s usually not because of one big event. It’s the work project and your kid’s school play and the relationship thing...
ADHD and accountability (without the shame)
13 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Accountability can feel loaded with guilt for women with ADHD — especially after years of masking, late diagnosis, and being told you’re “makin...
How are ADHD and chronic pain connected?
25 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you have ADHD or autism, research shows you’re at a much higher risk for developing chronic pain — a connection many doctors and patients stil...
Climbing the Walls | Ep. 6: Are hormones the final frontier for women with ADHD?
18 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this final episode of Climbing the Walls, Danielle explores the frustration women with ADHD feel toward a medical community that can’t answer the...
Sorry, I Missed This: Sensory overload in intimacy and the ADHD hyperfocus spiral (Listener Q&A!)
18 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this listener Q&A, Cate tackles two wildly relatable ADHD questions: sudden sensory discomfort during intimacy, and the maddening cycle of not bein...
Climbing the Walls | Ep. 5: Stories from ADHD camp
16 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On episode 5 of Climbing the Walls, Danielle attends an ADHD camp in Michigan and hears stories from several women about being diagnosed with ADHD lat...
Climbing the Walls | Ep. 4: From stigma to superpower
11 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Climbing the Walls, ADHD finds itself at the center of mental health discourse — and some see it not as a disorder but as a stre...
Climbing the Walls | Ep. 3: How social media changed ADHD forever
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On episode 3 of Climbing the Walls, we see that as ADHD content explodes during the pandemic, many people seek care for the first time. That includes ...
Climbing the Walls | Ep. 2: She wrote the book on women, shame, and ADHD
04 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the next episode of Climbing the Walls, we meet Sari Solden — who was looking for answers. Why was she having memory issues? Why couldn’t she ...
Weaponized incompetence and other ADHD “crimes” (Reddit Reactions)
04 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’re back with another spicy Reddit Reactions episode!This week, we dive into two wildly relatable ADHD relationship posts: one about a partner cla...
Climbing the Walls | Ep. 1: I didn’t want to have ADHD
02 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This month, we’re featuring our limited series Climbing the Walls. Join health and science journalist Danielle Elliot as she explores the surge in A...
Trans with ADHD: Finding good care shouldn’t be this hard
27 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
One of the most urgent ADHD research gaps has to do with ADHD and trans people. We know there are lots of trans folks with ADHD. But when it comes to ...
Sorry, I Missed This: ADHD impulsivity and saying yes to sex too fast
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever said yes to sex a little too fast and regretted it later? Same. Today we’re joined by psychologist and Understood Expert Dr. Ari Tuckman for a...
ADHD and dating: Why breakups feel like withdrawal
18 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Breakups are hard for everyone. But for women with ADHD, they can feel all-consuming. Dr. J unpacks why heartbreak hits harder when you have ADHD — ...
Hyperfocus: The uncertain future of special education in the United States
13 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Last month, the Trump administration laid off over 460 people in the U.S. Department of Education. It included nearly everyone in the Office of Specia...
Sorry, I Missed This: ADHD, disordered eating, and getting through the holidays
06 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The holidays are here — and so is all the food, family, and sensory overload that can come with them. Host Cate Osborn sits down with Aleta Storch, ...
ADHD and dating: Why the spark burns bright (then fades fast)
04 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For many women with ADHD, the spark of a new relationship feels like magic. But what happens when commitment feels like too much to manage?In this epi...
Sorry, I Missed This: Breaking the burnout cycle: How to move forward
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the final episode of our “Breaking the Burnout Cycle” three-part series, host Cate Osborn and Dr. Shauna Pollard explore what comes after burn...
ADHD and dating: Why casual dating never feels casual
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why do some women with ADHD rush through the courting stage? Dr. Monica Johnson explains what happens in the ADHD brain during courting.From intense ...
Suicidal ideation, masking, and overlooked ADHD: A Coast Guard veteran’s story
16 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Inattentive ADHD often goes unnoticed. It’s an easier type of ADHD to miss because it’s more internal and less outwardly visible than its hyperact...
Sorry, I Missed This: Breaking the burnout cycle: What is rest?
09 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Burnout isn’t a weakness. It’s a signal that your body needs real rest. Dr. Shauna Pollard is back for the second episode in our “Breaking the ...
ADHD and dating: Why crushes feel so intense
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever met someone and suddenly you’re imagining your wedding playlist — all before the first date? Dr. Monica Johnson weighs in on the sc...
Hyperfocus: What could the AI boom mean for neurodivergent people?
02 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Artificial intelligence has cemented itself as the latest world-altering technology. It follows the same lineage as electricity, the television, the i...
Sorry, I Missed This: Breaking the burnout cycle: What is burnout?
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Feeling drained, unmotivated, or stuck in survival mode? In part one of our “Breaking the Burnout Cycle” series, host Cate Osborn and psychologist...
ADHD and sensory overwhelm: Itchy tags and tight clothes
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Itchy tags, tight clothes, and scratchy fabrics can trigger real ADHD sensory overwhelm. Dr. Monica Johnson explains why it happens and what can hel...
Hyperfocus: “How I Met Your Mother” co-creator on parenting, disability, and language
18 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Craig Thomas is best known for his work on TV. He co-created the sitcom “How I Met Your Mother” and has written for “American Dad” and more. H...
Sorry, I Missed This: Cate answers your burning ADHD questions
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It’s a solo mailbag episode! Host Cate Osborn grabs her trusty D20 to let fate decide which listener emails to answer. Cate answers some common ADH...
ADHD and people-pleasing: Why can’t you stop?
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For some women with ADHD, people-pleasing is more than just being nice. It’s a way to cope with feeling overwhelmed or misunderstood.In this episode...
Sorry, I Missed This: When ADHD, money, and relationships collide
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if your money problems weren’t just about willpower, but about who you are?In this episode of Sorry, I Missed This, Cate chats with Ellyce Fulm...
ADHD and shopping addiction
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Many women with ADHD turn to shopping to cope with stress and anxiety. Buying things can feel good in the moment. But it often leads to regret, oversp...
Hyperfocus: “So, when are you having kids?” ADHD and deciding on parenthood
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
One of the most inevitable questions that comes with early adulthood is also one of the most fraught: “When are you having kids?” The question is...
ADHD and communicating boundaries
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For some women with ADHD, talking about boundaries can feel hard or scary. It’s not just about knowing your limits, but how to say them so others cl...
Hyperfocus: The R-word is back, and it’s definitely not funny | Part 2
07 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’re picking up where we left off last time on Hyperfocus for the conclusion of our two-part series on the R-word’s resurgence. Today, we meet a...
Sorry, I Missed This: So... How does that make you feel about your therapist?
31 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wondered if your therapist gets you, or if therapy is even working? You’re not alone. This week, Dr. Elizabeth Kilmer is back to unpack the co...
ADHD and emotional dysregulation
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Many women with ADHD struggle to manage their emotions. Strong feelings like anger, sadness, and guilt tend to come on fast and feel hard to control. ...
Hyperfocus: The R-word is back: How do you get people to care? | Part 1
24 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Last year, Rae and Cody at Team Hyperfocus noticed something unnerving: The R-word was coming back into public discourse. People, especially people in...
Tips from an ADHD Coach: Big feelings around clutter
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have a lot of clutter in your home? Does this clutter prevent you from doing other things, like finding the things you need, or inviting guests...
Sorry, I Missed This: ADHD and destigmatizing your desires
17 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Forget what you’ve seen in movies: BDSM isn’t one-size-fits-all. As Dr. Leann Borneman explains, it’s more of an à la carte menu where consen...
ADHD and: Forgetfulness
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Many women with ADHD often forget things, like where they left their keys or what they needed to buy at the store. This forgetfulness can make daily l...
Tips from an ADHD Coach: Being told you’re “too dramatic”
08 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you been told you’re “too dramatic”? Have people responded to the way you’ve reacted to things with invalidating statements, like “it’...
Sorry, I Missed This: ADHD grief isn’t linear — and that’s totally normal
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Grief can be overwhelming for anyone — but for people with ADHD, it can show up in surprising ways.Therapist Rachel Hopkins joins host Cate Osborn t...
ADHD and: Workplace stress
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Many women often feel overwhelmed at work. But for those with ADHD, the stress can be even greater.In this episode, Dr. Monica Johnson takes a closer ...
Hyperfocus: Is microdosing the next frontier in ADHD treatment?
26 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When you think about someone taking a psychedelic drug like magic mushrooms, the first images that come to mind probably don’t involve a medical pro...
Tips from an ADHD Coach: How to create morning momentum
24 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are mornings hard for you? Do you try to start working right away, only to find yourself stuck — even when it’s something you’re genuinely excit...
Sorry, I Missed This: How hormones hijack focus, mood, and energy
19 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
ADHD in women is often misunderstood, even by ourselves — and hormones are a big part of the story. This week, host Cate Osborn chats with psychiat...
ADHD and: Overachieving
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For many women with ADHD, overachievement is a coping mechanism. It’s a way to cover up their trouble with focus, memory, or organization. But over ...
Hyperfocus: Money problems and ADHD? Here’s a financial therapist’s advice
12 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you haven’t heard of financial therapy before reading this, don’t worry. It’s new for us, too. But when a past Hyperfocus guest told us to l...
Tips from an ADHD Coach: Imposter syndrome, and owning your success
10 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever been given an exciting opportunity, then found yourself feeling inadequate, underqualified, and undeserving after getting started? What ...
Sorry, I Missed This—Too much or not enough: ADHD sensory challenges and sex
05 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If sex sometimes feels confusing, overstimulating, or just... a lot, you’re not alone. ADHD and sensory issues can show up during sex and in our phy...
ADHD and: Self-medicating
03 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Some women with ADHD turn to self-medicating to cope with their symptoms. At first, it may seem to help. But over time, it can make ADHD harder to man...
Hyperfocus: Ignored to icons: These trailblazers changed the game for women with ADHD
29 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this very special episode of Hyperfocus, host Rae Jacobson interviews three of these women — Sari Solden, Terry Matlen, and Dr. Ellen Littman —...
Tips from an ADHD Coach: Why do we feel consistently inconsistent?
27 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are there parts of your personality that seem to contradict each other? Do you struggle to set expectations for yourself because your reactions, behav...
Sorry, I Missed This — ADHD and caregiving: Helping others when you’re struggling
22 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Being a caregiver to a friend or loved one is hard—add ADHD to the mix, and it’s a whole different challenge.Self-care and ADHD Coach Stephanie An...
ADHD and: Setting boundaries
20 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Dr. Monica Johnson dives into how ADHD makes setting boundaries difficult. Listen as she breaks down why women with ADHD often strugg...
Hyperfocus: Mother’s Day special — Rae on ADHD Aha!
15 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join health and science journalist Danielle Elliot as she investigates the rise of women recently diagnosed with ADHD. Listen to Climbing the Walls no...
Tips from an ADHD Coach: How to share your ADHD diagnosis with others
13 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you had a bad experience talking about your ADHD with friends or family? Or, are you worried about sharing your ADHD diagnosis with friends and f...
Sorry, I Missed This: Kink, BDSM, and ADHD
08 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join health and science journalist Danielle Elliot as she investigates the rise of women recently diagnosed with ADHD. Listen to Climbing the Walls no...
ADHD and: Asking for help
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join health and science journalist Danielle Elliot as she investigates the rise of women recently diagnosed with ADHD. Listen to Climbing the Walls no...
Tips from an ADHD Coach: Changing careers often
29 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you changed careers or academic interests multiple times in your life? Do you find yourself thinking this next job is going to be the one that st...
Sorry, I Missed This: Online dating with ADHD
24 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In theory, online dating can feel like an easy, low-stakes solution to meeting people. But in practice, there are a few pitfalls that many fall into. ...
ADHD and: Burnout
22 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Many women with ADHD get stuck in a never-ending cycle of burnout. Trying to manage work, family, and social commitments can feel overwhelming, leavin...
Hyperfocus: Meet the reporter who threw herself into the ADHD universe
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you follow ADHD news, you might’ve heard that diagnosis rates in women nearly doubled during the pandemic. Danielle Elliot was one of them, recei...
Tips from an ADHD Coach: People-pleasing everyone but ourselves
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Many people with ADHD, especially women, consider themselves people pleasers. It can become a habit to start putting others first without thinking, ev...
Sorry, I Missed This: Reddit reactions — ADHD, cheating, and weaponized incompetence
10 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are ADHD and cheating related? What about weaponized incompetence and ADHD? These are a few questions that surround the ADHD community.Producer Margie...
ADHD and: The fear of failure
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For some women with ADHD, the fear of failure can feel overwhelming, causing them to second-guess their every move. They might avoid taking risks or s...
Hyperfocus: Can you really “hack” your dopamine?
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It often seems that the more complex a subject is, the more people tend to oversimplify it.If your social media feeds are anything like mine, that’s...
Tips from an ADHD Coach: ADHD going unnoticed in childhood
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A lot of adults with a late ADHD diagnosis can look back on their childhood and see clear signs that they had ADHD. But, it just didn’t get noticed ...
Sorry, I Missed This: What makes a ‘good listener’ with ADHD?
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
People with ADHD can often get a bad rap for being “bad listeners.” So, instead of actually listening, we’re often focusing on: Do they know I'm...
ADHD and: Menopause
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hormonal changes during menopause can make managing ADHD symptoms more challenging, and their impact can vary from woman to woman.In this episode, Dr....
Hyperfocus: Is ADHD genetic? We asked a Harvard scientist
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’re back with another episode from our Hyperfocus field trip to San Diego. While we were at the APSARD (American Professional Society of ADHD and ...
Tips from an ADHD Coach: Saying sorry too much
18 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
People with ADHD have likely had to apologize for their ADHD traits more than once. So, it can be easy to fall into a habit of saying sorry all the ti...
Sorry, I Missed This: Building ADHD community
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Without community, ADHD can feel isolating and shameful. Like you’re the only one facing these challenges and “can’t get it together.” Communi...
ADHD and aging
11 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As women get older, they often notice changes in their body and mind that can be difficult to adjust to. And for women with ADHD, these changes can be...
Hyperfocus: Head, heart, hormones — why women’s ADHD care should treat the whole person
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Earlier this year, Hyperfocus took a field trip to San Diego for an ADHD conference called APSARD, which stands for the American Professional Society ...
Tips from an ADHD Coach: Changing hobbies
04 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone tries out different hobbies from time to time. With ADHD, the intensity of these interests, and the number of interests we’ve abandoned, te...
Sorry, I Missed This: The ADHD shame spiral from making mistakes in relationships
27 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A lot of shame can come up when a person with ADHD is confronted about a mistake they’ve made. They might start to spiral into bad feelings, and neg...
ADHD and: Self-care
25 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For many women with ADHD, self-care is usually the last thing they think about. It’s hard to focus on taking care of yourself when you have so many ...
Hyperfocus: “Who are we missing?” One doctor’s lifelong fight for women with ADHD
20 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Kathleen Nadeau is someone who I’d call one of the godmothers of ADHD in women. She was one of the first people to stand up to the medical estab...